More Than Movement: Rachelle Clingo Walker Smithfield Shares Her Insights on How to Tell a Story Through Dance

Austin, Texas, 19th June 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Rachelle Clingo Walker Smithfield, known as Rae to her family, friends, and students has spent much of her life in motion. Whether she’s choreographing a school musical, launching youth sports programs, or designing user experiences, one thing remains constant: her belief in the power of storytelling. Today, Rae shares a message she’s passionate about: dance is more than steps and rhythm. It’s a language. It’s a story. It’s art.

Drawing on her deep background in musical theatre and community leadership, Rachelle is shining a light on how dancers of all levels can transform movement into meaning, emotion, and human connection.

“A dance is more than just a dance,” Rae says. “It’s an expression of everything we feel and everything we want to communicate—passion, love, sadness, strength, joy. And when we tell a story through our bodies, we create something unforgettable.”

The Bruce Lee Principle of Dance

To explain how dancers evolve in their storytelling, Rae references a paraphrased quote often attributed to martial artist Bruce Lee:

“Before I studied the art, a punch was just a punch, a kick was just a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer just a punch. Now that I’ve understood the art, a punch is just a punch.”

In Rae’s words, “When we first learn dance, a step is just a step. Then we realize there’s emotion, intention, and character behind every motion. Eventually, that awareness becomes second nature. That’s when we truly begin to dance.”

Step One: Create a Persona

One of Rae’s key insights is the importance of character work in dance. “Great dancing always involves a little make-believe,” she explains. “We’re moving and becoming someone else for those few minutes.”

Developing a persona adds depth to a dancer’s performance. Whether embodying a playful flirt, a sorrowful lover, or a confident diva, every character brings a new layer to movement:

• A secretive character might dance close to the floor, with smooth, subtle movements.

• A relaxed persona could move with lazy grace, minimal effort, and ease.

• A diva would own the floor with exaggerated styling, body isolations, and sultry eye contact.

These choices influence posture, energy, and connection by making the story of the dance come alive without a single word.

Step Two: Express Real Emotion

According to Rae, dancing with emotion is not just an artistic choice—it’s a deeply human experience.

“If you pretend to be sad, wear a sad face, and move like you’re carrying sorrow, you will actually start to feel that sadness,” she explains. “And your audience will feel it too.”

This emotional mirroring allows dancers to evoke real responses from those watching or dancing with them. Rae encourages dancers to explore emotional range through movement:

• Anger: Strong, fast, and sharp movements with intensity in the face.
  

• Sadness: Soft, slow, and smaller movements—often with a downward gaze.
  

• Joy: Light, open, and bouncy movements, with smiles and expressive gestures.
  

These nuances don’t require advanced technique—just self-awareness, empathy, and intention.

Step Three: Tell a Story

Building on character and emotion, Rae emphasizes storytelling as the heart of meaningful dance. Just like a song or a movie, a dance often has a beginning, middle, and end. “The most powerful dances are stories in motion,” she says.

Imagine a choreography that begins with tenderness and connection, builds into a conflict, and ends with resolution or heartbreak. Each phase uses different movements and energy levels to convey the emotional arc.

Another sequence might move from insecurity to confidence, using posture and pace to show transformation. According to Rae, “These shifts don’t have to be theatrical—they just have to be honest.”

And in partner dancing, she adds, the story isn’t just yours to tell.

“Your partner is telling a story too. The magic comes when you learn to listen—not just with your ears, but with your whole body.”

Learning to respond to a partner’s subtle cues of tempo changes, movement direction, or emotional shifts. It makes for a richer, more collaborative storytelling experience.

Not Just for the Stage

Some might assume this kind of emotional storytelling belongs only on the performance stage. Rae disagrees.

“Who says this is only for performances? I’ve had some of my most joyful dance moments in casual social settings—just putting myself in the shoes of an imaginary character and playing. It’s not about impressing anyone. It’s about connecting and enjoying the dance in a whole new way.”

According to Rae, storytelling in dance enhances creativity, builds confidence, and creates deeper connections whether dancing solo, with a partner, or in a group.

Rachelle’s Journey: A Life Built on Expression and Community

Rachelle’s love of storytelling extends far beyond the dance floor. A proud mother of four and longtime Smithfield resident, Rae leads with compassion in everything she does. She holds a full-time bookkeeping role at Kirby Creative Accounting, balancing analytical precision with a strong creative instinct which she brings to life through freelance UX design and community arts.

In 2014, Rae founded a youth athletic club in South Jordan, which grew to serve over 800 participants and is a testament to her drive to build programs that bring people together. She has contributed over 500 hours of volunteer service to the Family Support Center and Utah’s Domestic Violence Coalition, supporting vulnerable families through education, outreach, and empowerment.

Rae also directs the annual musical at Sunrise Elementary, where her choreography and mentorship inspire students to discover their creative voices through movement and performance. “Helping young performers tell stories through dance is one of the most rewarding things I do,” she says.

Moving Forward: The Dance of Everyday Life

Whether she’s organizing a performance, caring for her garden, coaching her sons’ soccer games, or designing digital experiences, Rae is always telling stories. Her belief in the expressive power of dance is part of a larger philosophy—that creativity when paired with compassion, can transform individuals and communities.

“We’re all storytellers,” Rae says. “And we all have movement in us. You don’t need to be a professional dancer to tell a story through dance—you just need the courage to feel something, imagine something, and move with purpose.”

As Rachelle Clingo Walker Smithfield continues to guide young dancers, support her community, and explore new creative avenues, her message is clear: dance is perfection and expression. And with imagination, empathy, and a little bit of play, anyone can learn to tell their story.

Media Contact:
Rachelle Clingo Walker Smithfield

Instagram: WalkerFamilySunshine 

Rae’s Dance Workshop

Smithfield, Utah